Kids birthday parties - how to do them on the cheap

Children's birthday parties can be so expensive, especially if are a good mum who actually loves her kids.

Just kidding. Please don't tweet me.

My love for my children fluctuates depending on their behaviour, but usually in the lead up to each of their birthdays they are on their best behaviour, requiring me to fork out for the party of their choice.

In the latest episode of Honey Mums, Deb Knight talks to Dr Kirstin Ferguson about her incredible twitter campaign #celebratingwomen as well as her new book Women Kind. (Article continues.)

I literally don't get away with less than $500 and that's a fair whack, especially if they are expecting a gift on top of that.

Isn't the party the gift? Can't it be?

According to Real Family Values research, parents spend over one million dollars on children's birthday parties country wide, with approximately 70 percent of parents surveyed admitting they feel pressured to throw extravagant parties for their kids due to the influence of social media an celebrities.

Other mums to the rescue, in the form of Kylie Travers from The Thrifty Issueand Rachael Puric from Mini Peaswho have each come up with ideas for birthday parties on the cheap, all $200 and under.

Bless you Kylie and Rachael. Bless you both.

Kylie Travers says a Monster High party is easy to host, if you're willing to dress up for it. (Supplied )

1. Monster High Party by Kylie Travers

When her daughter turned eight, Kylie and her sister dressed up as Monster High Dolls and hosted games, fancy dress and a makeup station that all the kids loved.

"All up, with decorations, food, games and their costumes, the total cost came to $200, compared to the $400-plus for a party at a play centre," Kylie tells 9Honey.

Kylie printed the invitations at home, hosted it at home, spent $90 on decorations including costumes, $35 on prizes for games and the make over station which included nail polish, mini coloured hair extensions and makeup.

Her daughter had plenty of dress ups to go around and Kylie topped up the dress ups station with fabric from her craft cupboard and "loads of shoes."

"They did a fashion parade, danced and had a blast," she said.

The food cost $65 which included cupcakes party guests could decorate themselves, a fruit platter, fairy bread, chips and fizzy drink.

TOTAL COST: $190

2. Minecraft Party by Rachael Puric

When Rachael's son turned nine, he quested a Minecraft-themed party. Rachael started by collecting boxes from work for a month beforehand that were all about the same size.

"From there, we created a Minecraft Zombie and a Creekper and the rest were in the backyard for the boys to play real life Minecraft," she tells 9Honey.

There was crafting game where the boys collected different papers and had to use them to craft.

"There was a crafting game where the boys collected different papers and had to use them to craft (which was swapping with Rachael) for items you find in the game like cakes, cookies, and themed items like bookmarks and key chains, most of which were made at home with things they already had and this was their loot bag," she says.

"These two activities were a huge hit and kept them entertained for hours. Rachael also did themed food like brownies with green icing for grass blocks, any food mentioned in the game such as watermelon, carrot sticks, cookies and food that could be square shaped."

In February, Kylie hosted a Spy Party for her nine-year-old which included spy training and a treasure hunt, as well as a laser obstacle course and created disguises.

"The party then went on a mission to rescue the 'loot' which was the kid's party bags," she tells 9Honey.

Kylie instructed guests to dress in black and made up riddles for them to work out, which related to things in the park where the party was held for free.

The cake was a 'rock cake' as requested by her daughter - a mud cake covered in Nutella with Maltesers and Ferrero Rocher, with the savvy mum using ingredients on special to create the treat. The total cost of ingredients was $14.

Invitations were printed at home and $60 spent on decorations. Food cost $25 and included a fruit platter, chips and drinks.

TOTAL COST: $99

4. Frozen Party by Rachael Puric

For her daughter's fifth birthday, Rachael hosted a Frozen-themed birthday party, setting up a station of blue water including a water tub, fake snow tub and a gliltter slime station which she was was the most popular feature.

"They were spread over the backyard and kids could move from one to the next," she tells 9Honey.

Rachel also made an 'ice castle' out of white sheets on the clothesline and all the dress ups were set up inside.

"The kids played games like musical statues using Frozen music," she says. "All the kids had a blast and were not ready to go home."

TOTAL COST: $150

Some of these birthday party ideas come in at well under $200. (Getty )

5. BYO Bike Party by Rachael Puric

This has been the the most popular party Rachel has ever thrown, with the mum inviting children to come to the local park, not setting a limit on guest numbers because it was "such an easy and cheap party to throw."

Food served included fruit platters, popcorn and fair bread.

"The guests all bring whatever wheels they have, bikes, scooters and rollerblades and the kids just played and came and went from the food table as they pleased," she said.

"They gathered at the end for the cake, which is cupcakes and to give out the loot bags."

Rachael said most parents stayed for the party and enjoyed a relaxed morning.

TOTAL COST: $85

Share your birthday party ideas by sending an email to Jo Abi at jabi@nine.com.au or via Twitter @joabi or Instagram @joabi961